The Last Bus
Seen it?2021 | 88 min | Drama
Weeknight Watchearly ratingWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With middling reviews (50% on Rotten Tomatoes) and soft box office, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 28 min.
- What might put you off
- Nothing much for most grown-ups.
Widower Tom, on the recent passing of his wife Mary, uses his free bus pass to travel the length of Britain from John O'Groats in Caithness to Land's End in Cornwall, their shared birthplace, using only local buses. It's an incident-fuelled nostalgia trip and his encounters with local people make him a media phenomenon. Tom is totally unaware and to his surprise on arrival at Land’s End he’s greeted as a celebrity.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
50% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.5 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 72K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Gillies MacKinnon
- Timothy SpallTom
- Phyllis LoganMary
- Natalie MitsonYoung Mary
- Ben EwingYoung Tom
- Patricia PantherTracy
- Saskia AshdownImogen
- Colin McCredieGraham
- Marnie BaxterAlice
- Iain RobertsonAndrey
- Susanna LaineMaria